In an interview with Business Insider explained that he served in the U.S. Navy to protect exactly this kind of American freedom.

“I salute Colin Kaepernick,” Ventura said. “I fully support him. Fully and completely. That’s why I served my country, so that you have the freedom to protest. If we don’t like protesting, what’s next?”

Ventura couldn’t possibly care what Kaepernick is protesting, rather that he has the power to do it.

“He shouldn’t be booed,” Ventura continued. “And who’s he harming? When I was governor of Minnesota, the Dems and Repubs tried to nail me. You know what they did? They passed a law requiring the Pledge of Allegiance for all public school children. The Pledge of Allegiance for all public school children. Governments earn patriotism. You earn that.”

Venture explained that it was the Nazis who mandated their country’s allegiance in the 1930s.

“That’s what we wanna be? We wanna build walls now and be East Berlin? That’s the direction of the United States today?” he asked.

He continued, saying that he thinks Kaepernick has courage and is a man of convictions. He also noted that Kaepernick isn’t merely protesting, he’s also donating to the cause with $1 million of his own salary.

“Good for him. Whether I agree with him or not is irrelevant,” Ventura closed. “I’ll still respect his right to do it, and everyone should respect that.”